This is the first time I've been to First Wok since they moved to their new location just a few hundred feet west of the former location. Beautiful new dining area. Brand new - not just moving into an existing building. I must admit I was concerned because I've been watching them build this place for well over a year now, and progress has been so slow that I was wondering if they were ever going to finish. But it looks great. Especially if you get one of the south-facing or east facing sides so that it's a little bit lighter because of the windows. The rest of the dining area is a little bit dark for my taste. I came for Father's Day dinner at about 2 in the afternoon. My wife and I decided to split an order. I ordered the beef and Chinese vegetables, which comes with an egg roll and egg drop soup. We purchased an extra egg roll and replace the egg drop soup with a vegetable soup but we had to pay extra for that. They were a little more expensive than I expected them to be with a beef dish running around $15. But with the extras it was not outrageous. I was taken aback a bit by the egg roll. When they first brought it out because it was so short. but they were also thicker than most, and they were stuffed and packed very tightly so there was a lot inside. and they were very flavorful some of the best egg rolls I've had. The beef and veggies were delicious. It had cauliflower in with it which you don't normally see. And the portions were large enough that my wife and I shared the meal and we still ended up bringing some home. Only one thing that I saw that I didn't care for. One of the management staff, probably the owner, a female, was being very bossy and rude to her staff. To the point that if I worked there I would have quit on her. I would like to see that change. But other than that a very good experience and I will probably come back.
(4)
Lindsay C.
We went here hoping to discover a great new Chinese place- it was a decent experience but nothing spectacular. I had General Tsao's chicken which is sort of a staple for me when I try a new Chinese place; that or family style bean curd. Anyway, the chicken was white meat, but I had to order it that way I think; when I asked our waitress if it was white meat she said yes, it could be made that way. So you might want to specify that. The sauce was very flavorful and sweet and had a ginger taste to it. My partner had Ma Po tofu with pork, which wasn't inedible but lacked the flavor and spice I've had in Chinatown and other Chinese places. My egg roll was delicious; hot, crispy and fresh, but the dumplings we got were a little bland - although not outright bad by any means. The bottom line of this place would be that the Americanized Chinese food is delicious, the portions are hearty, but I would try elsewhere for authentic fare. However, the service and atmosphere is very good; clean and friendly. I'd go again but I think we would stick with the less authentic Chinese food.
(3)
Rob B.
Brand new facility looks great! Much more spacious.
(4)
Dan B.
Absolutely the best Chinese food I've ever eaten. The hot and sour soup is incredible. Every time I travel back home to Michigan, I try to make sure I stop here at least once.
(5)
Todd C.
First Wok is the best non-buffet chinese restaurant in Grand Rapids! The food is great everytime!
(5)
Russ V.
The food at first wok is not its weakness. But at least today the service was. Now perhaps they were just having a bad day. But it just took too long for the waitress to get to our table, and they always seems to be off chatting by themselves, instead of helping us. The food was very good, it was hot it was tasty. The dining room seems very clean, and the decor is pleasant. I felt the price was quite reasonable. Now if the waitstaff could be just an ounce more professional, this would be a five-star place
(3)
Christine L.
First things first. I love the hot and sour soup. The soup is full of peppery goodness and one of the best that I have tried in the GR area. The rest of the food is ok. I usually order the seasame chicken when I want a meal. Service is alright.
(3)
M M.
Below average Chinese food. Ten years ago this place was really good. I guess times change. Food made me sick. Service was stubborn.
(1)
Deelilah J.
My favorite Chinese food, hands down. I've brought three people here who said it was the best they've had. An entree is around eight bucks and you get soup (egg drop, hot and sour or won ton which is a dollar extra), crab cheese or fried chicken (you can specify which you'd like but they generally choose if you don't pipe up) and an egg roll for lunch. Very reasonable deal, particularly since I usually take half home.
(5)
Megan K.
A few of the girls and I were in town for a photoshoot and had our friend grab takeout for us here. Our photographer said it was the best in town. It was pretty good. A tad pricey for my substitution, it was dinnertime and I asked for fried rice instead of steamed and to substitute it, it cost an extra $3.50. Looked over their menu online, was going to get egg drop soup until I noticed they put shrimp in theirs. Meh. They put shrimp in all of their soups. I'm the worst asian ever because I don't care for seafood, so that was kind of a bummer. The cool thing about this place was that they gave us a tea packet, fortune cookies AND almond cookies. Yum:) For a menu, just go to: firstwokgr.com/home.nxg
(4)
Eric C.
My favorite Chinese restaurant. I have been dining @ First Wok since the early 1990's. The service is very good and it is also excellent choice for take out! A perfect choice for a Friday night. My wife loves the Hot & Sour Soup!
(5)
Jane P.
My friend's aunt owns this restaurant and I gotta say, it's pretty good! Not the best Chinese restaurant ever, but okay for around here! The food is a bit dry, but it tasted pretty good. The service is alright.
(4)
Stephanie K.
Ov-er Rat-ed (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap) Everyone rants and raves about how good this place is, not necessarily on yelp, but in real life. It's just okay for me. Not impressed by anything, especially the crab Rangoon. And for the price? Puh-lease. I will drive on over to the Yummy Wok around the corner, which believe me I was incredibly put off by their name, but costs less and tastes better. Just because you hang articles on your walls from the local newspaper about how great you are doesn't make you really great.
(2)
Mai T.
First Wok, Golden Wok, Magic Wok!! If you didn't know, all of these restaurants are owned by the same family. First Wok is located on 44th Street (Kentwood), Old 28th Street (Cascade), and on Alpine (Walker). These three are owned by the oldest sister of the family. Golden Wok is located on the East Beltline and is managed by the youngest brother of the family. He's SUPER nice. Magic Wok is located by 44th and Ivanrest and is owned by another Sister. (she's not too nice) Now that you have a little history on these three, let's talk specifically about First Wok (Kentwood). This place is located in a strip of other businesses. It's very crowded and congested from the entrance to the host/hostess table. The tables are very close to each other and you wouldn't get as much privacy. The room is quite big though with plenty of tables for large groups. Service is quick, but you can't expect a lot from Chinese restaurants as they are usually the in-and-out type of place. The food is good for a typical Chinese menu. It comes out hot off the stove and you can't every go wrong with any dish you get. I especially love the eggrolls as it is filled with so much veggies. The egg drop soup is one of my favs as it is filled with not just eggs but delicious veggies as well. Seeing that this restaurant is owned by the same family members, I believe it is safe to safe that the food is the same at all locations with different names.
(4)
Tina H.
I found the General Tso's chicken amazing. The sauce was not to hot nor too mild and the portion side was rather large for the price. The lunch portion came with soup, fried rice, and the either a choice of egg roll or crab rangoon (I had the rangoon.) Friendly and fast service.
(5)
Scott R.
First Wok is not the most authentic Chinese cuisine you can find in Grand Rapids, but it perfectly suits my midwestern palette. The hot & sour soup is a favorite in my group of friends, and I am also a big fan of the cashew chicken. Prices are reasonable, especially at lunch time, and the atmosphere is very pleasant. It is a "nice" restaurant, but not too nice. Service is excellent as well. This is Chinese food for white people at its finest.
(5)
Kori Y.
Your slightly above average Chinese food place. Have done a lot of take out from here in the past. They just built and moved into a new building, so thought we would check it out. Kind of bummed that the dinner entrees don't come with egg roll and soup (it does on Sundays we were told). When we found this out after ordered, our waitress bought them to us free with an apology, so that's a pus for customer service / concern.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
James M.
This is the first time I've been to First Wok since they moved to their new location just a few hundred feet west of the former location. Beautiful new dining area. Brand new - not just moving into an existing building. I must admit I was concerned because I've been watching them build this place for well over a year now, and progress has been so slow that I was wondering if they were ever going to finish. But it looks great. Especially if you get one of the south-facing or east facing sides so that it's a little bit lighter because of the windows. The rest of the dining area is a little bit dark for my taste. I came for Father's Day dinner at about 2 in the afternoon. My wife and I decided to split an order. I ordered the beef and Chinese vegetables, which comes with an egg roll and egg drop soup. We purchased an extra egg roll and replace the egg drop soup with a vegetable soup but we had to pay extra for that. They were a little more expensive than I expected them to be with a beef dish running around $15. But with the extras it was not outrageous. I was taken aback a bit by the egg roll. When they first brought it out because it was so short. but they were also thicker than most, and they were stuffed and packed very tightly so there was a lot inside. and they were very flavorful some of the best egg rolls I've had. The beef and veggies were delicious. It had cauliflower in with it which you don't normally see. And the portions were large enough that my wife and I shared the meal and we still ended up bringing some home. Only one thing that I saw that I didn't care for. One of the management staff, probably the owner, a female, was being very bossy and rude to her staff. To the point that if I worked there I would have quit on her. I would like to see that change. But other than that a very good experience and I will probably come back.
(4)Lindsay C.
We went here hoping to discover a great new Chinese place- it was a decent experience but nothing spectacular. I had General Tsao's chicken which is sort of a staple for me when I try a new Chinese place; that or family style bean curd. Anyway, the chicken was white meat, but I had to order it that way I think; when I asked our waitress if it was white meat she said yes, it could be made that way. So you might want to specify that. The sauce was very flavorful and sweet and had a ginger taste to it. My partner had Ma Po tofu with pork, which wasn't inedible but lacked the flavor and spice I've had in Chinatown and other Chinese places. My egg roll was delicious; hot, crispy and fresh, but the dumplings we got were a little bland - although not outright bad by any means. The bottom line of this place would be that the Americanized Chinese food is delicious, the portions are hearty, but I would try elsewhere for authentic fare. However, the service and atmosphere is very good; clean and friendly. I'd go again but I think we would stick with the less authentic Chinese food.
(3)Rob B.
Brand new facility looks great! Much more spacious.
(4)Dan B.
Absolutely the best Chinese food I've ever eaten. The hot and sour soup is incredible. Every time I travel back home to Michigan, I try to make sure I stop here at least once.
(5)Todd C.
First Wok is the best non-buffet chinese restaurant in Grand Rapids! The food is great everytime!
(5)Russ V.
The food at first wok is not its weakness. But at least today the service was. Now perhaps they were just having a bad day. But it just took too long for the waitress to get to our table, and they always seems to be off chatting by themselves, instead of helping us. The food was very good, it was hot it was tasty. The dining room seems very clean, and the decor is pleasant. I felt the price was quite reasonable. Now if the waitstaff could be just an ounce more professional, this would be a five-star place
(3)Christine L.
First things first. I love the hot and sour soup. The soup is full of peppery goodness and one of the best that I have tried in the GR area. The rest of the food is ok. I usually order the seasame chicken when I want a meal. Service is alright.
(3)M M.
Below average Chinese food. Ten years ago this place was really good. I guess times change. Food made me sick. Service was stubborn.
(1)Deelilah J.
My favorite Chinese food, hands down. I've brought three people here who said it was the best they've had. An entree is around eight bucks and you get soup (egg drop, hot and sour or won ton which is a dollar extra), crab cheese or fried chicken (you can specify which you'd like but they generally choose if you don't pipe up) and an egg roll for lunch. Very reasonable deal, particularly since I usually take half home.
(5)Megan K.
A few of the girls and I were in town for a photoshoot and had our friend grab takeout for us here. Our photographer said it was the best in town. It was pretty good. A tad pricey for my substitution, it was dinnertime and I asked for fried rice instead of steamed and to substitute it, it cost an extra $3.50. Looked over their menu online, was going to get egg drop soup until I noticed they put shrimp in theirs. Meh. They put shrimp in all of their soups. I'm the worst asian ever because I don't care for seafood, so that was kind of a bummer. The cool thing about this place was that they gave us a tea packet, fortune cookies AND almond cookies. Yum:) For a menu, just go to: firstwokgr.com/home.nxg
(4)Eric C.
My favorite Chinese restaurant. I have been dining @ First Wok since the early 1990's. The service is very good and it is also excellent choice for take out! A perfect choice for a Friday night. My wife loves the Hot & Sour Soup!
(5)Jane P.
My friend's aunt owns this restaurant and I gotta say, it's pretty good! Not the best Chinese restaurant ever, but okay for around here! The food is a bit dry, but it tasted pretty good. The service is alright.
(4)Stephanie K.
Ov-er Rat-ed (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap) Everyone rants and raves about how good this place is, not necessarily on yelp, but in real life. It's just okay for me. Not impressed by anything, especially the crab Rangoon. And for the price? Puh-lease. I will drive on over to the Yummy Wok around the corner, which believe me I was incredibly put off by their name, but costs less and tastes better. Just because you hang articles on your walls from the local newspaper about how great you are doesn't make you really great.
(2)Mai T.
First Wok, Golden Wok, Magic Wok!! If you didn't know, all of these restaurants are owned by the same family. First Wok is located on 44th Street (Kentwood), Old 28th Street (Cascade), and on Alpine (Walker). These three are owned by the oldest sister of the family. Golden Wok is located on the East Beltline and is managed by the youngest brother of the family. He's SUPER nice. Magic Wok is located by 44th and Ivanrest and is owned by another Sister. (she's not too nice) Now that you have a little history on these three, let's talk specifically about First Wok (Kentwood). This place is located in a strip of other businesses. It's very crowded and congested from the entrance to the host/hostess table. The tables are very close to each other and you wouldn't get as much privacy. The room is quite big though with plenty of tables for large groups. Service is quick, but you can't expect a lot from Chinese restaurants as they are usually the in-and-out type of place. The food is good for a typical Chinese menu. It comes out hot off the stove and you can't every go wrong with any dish you get. I especially love the eggrolls as it is filled with so much veggies. The egg drop soup is one of my favs as it is filled with not just eggs but delicious veggies as well. Seeing that this restaurant is owned by the same family members, I believe it is safe to safe that the food is the same at all locations with different names.
(4)Tina H.
I found the General Tso's chicken amazing. The sauce was not to hot nor too mild and the portion side was rather large for the price. The lunch portion came with soup, fried rice, and the either a choice of egg roll or crab rangoon (I had the rangoon.) Friendly and fast service.
(5)Scott R.
First Wok is not the most authentic Chinese cuisine you can find in Grand Rapids, but it perfectly suits my midwestern palette. The hot & sour soup is a favorite in my group of friends, and I am also a big fan of the cashew chicken. Prices are reasonable, especially at lunch time, and the atmosphere is very pleasant. It is a "nice" restaurant, but not too nice. Service is excellent as well. This is Chinese food for white people at its finest.
(5)Kori Y.
Your slightly above average Chinese food place. Have done a lot of take out from here in the past. They just built and moved into a new building, so thought we would check it out. Kind of bummed that the dinner entrees don't come with egg roll and soup (it does on Sundays we were told). When we found this out after ordered, our waitress bought them to us free with an apology, so that's a pus for customer service / concern.
(3)Sheryl R.
Took 3 different friends at different times over last 4 mo and they all loved First Wok on 44th at Breton SE. One BFF said this was the 1st Chinese restaurant I've taken her to that she really liked! Another BFF just chows down and eats every bite which she never does! New male friend also enjoyed our lunch there. Only complaint is that in their failure to update their décor they are doing themselves a disfavor. 3 of us favor bold spicy food, 1 likes mild. We were all happy w our meals.
(4)